Tre Torri

Rosentalturm Competition
Basel, Switzerland

Team: Manuel Herz, Angeliki Giannisi, Francesca Mautone, Ben Olschner
Landscape Architect: Céline Baumann
Competition: 2022

The building site, located between Messeplatz, Rosentalanlage and Riehenstrasse, is one of the outstanding areas that will have a lasting influence on the development of the city-canton over the coming decades, and is a place where different worlds of Basel come together, overlap and influence each other. Situated in the heart of Kleinbasel, in the Rosental residential district, and adjacent to Wettstein, it is a prime example of the heterogeneous, colourful, local and liveable district on the eastern side of the Rhine. Situated in the centre of the trade fair grounds, the property also represents the important supra-regional and international dimension of the city.

While the residents of the entire neighbourhood and the region enjoy their tradition and urban society at the autumn fair, they also celebrate the global presence of cultural creation and discourse at Art Basel. In this respect, the site stands paradigmatically, or more so than almost any other location, par excellence, for the city of Basel itself, which can marvellously combine a local and traditional quality of life with an international presence.

  • The development proposal for the Rosentalturm consists of three tall buildings with residential use, which rise up from a low, two-storey plinth development. Each high-rise building is assigned to one of the three main urban spaces to which the site is orientated. The tallest high-rise building is located on Messeplatz with approx. 91 metres and 30 storeys. Towards the Rosentalanlage is the middle building, with approx. 44 metres and 14 storeys. The lowest of the three high-rise buildings, with 10 storeys and 32 metres, is oriented along Riehenstrasse. The base development is two-storey across the main areas and offers flexible space for neighbourhood uses, restaurants, cultural facilities and local businesses. At the north-east corner, two residential storeys complement the plinth to provide a more substantial urban response to the Messeplatz. At its centre, the base development features a large, public courtyard with dense vegetation. Extensive roof terraces serve as communal areas for residents to relax. In addition, the 22nd floor of the tower block on Messeplatz offers a loggia floor with large outdoor areas, which, with its breathtaking views, is available to all residents as a recreational area.